SAN DIEGO — As the Mets await a potential larger splash for the rotation, a veteran left-handed pitcher has joined the mix.
The club agreed to terms with Jose Quintana on Wednesday on a two-year contract worth $26 million, according to industry sources. Quintana 33, was the second starting pitcher landed by the Mets at the winter meetings, joining Justin Verlander, the rotation replacement for Jacob deGrom.
Still on the docket is the possibility of Kodai Senga, a Japanese ace who would slot in behind Max Scherzer and Verlander in the rotation. The Mets are among a handful of teams showing serious interest in Senga.
Quintana, a native of Colombia, spent last season with the Pirates and Cardinals and pitched to a 2.93 ERA in 32 starts combined for the two teams.
The lefty doesn’t possess a big fastball, but excels in getting batters to chase pitches, and the average exit velocity of 86.5 mph against him ranked in the 89th percentile among MLB pitchers last season, according to Statcast. In 165 ²/₃ innings he struck out 154 and walked 47.
Quintana began his major league career with the White Sox and has since pitched for the Cubs, Angels and Giants, in addition to his two teams last season. His professional career began with the Mets, who signed him as a free agent in 2006 and assigned him to the rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League. Quintana also pitched in the minor leagues for the Yankees.
Quintana gives the Mets a back end of the rotation arm to join Carlos Carrasco, whose $14 million option for next season was picked up last month by the club. However, the Mets could look to trade Carrasco if another starter is acquired.
The team’s rotation depth includes David Peterson and Tylor Megill, along with Joey Lucchesi, who missed last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. But there is still a void in the middle of the rotation the Mets could address with Senga if not by pivoting toward options such as Ross Stripling and Chris Bassitt.
Other starters with whom the Mets were involved at the winter meetings — most notably Jameson Taillon and Andrew Heaney — came off the board. Taillon, the former Yankee, received a four-year deal worth $68 million from the Cubs. The lefty Heaney received a two-year deal from the Rangers that could be worth as much as $37 million with incentives. Another potential option, Taijuan Walker – who pitched the last two seasons for the Mets – received a four-year contract worth $72 million from the Phillies.
The rotation has remained a focal point for the Mets following Jacob deGrom’s departure to Texas last week on a five-year contract worth $185 million. It’s a deal that included a sixth-year option that could push the value to $222 million. Taijuan Walker also left in free agency, agreeing to a four-year, $72 million deal with the Phillies.
Want to catch a game? The Mets schedule with links to buy tickets can be found here.
The Mets instead took the money they were offering deGrom (roughly $110 million over three years) and slotted it toward the 39-year-old Verlander. The Mets reached agreement Monday on a two-year deal with Verlander — last season’s American League Cy Young award winner — worth $86.6 million. The contract includes a third-year option for an additional $35 million.
Carlos Rodon was also on the Mets’ radar before the winter meetings, but the team is less likely to pursue him given the price tag and the fact the left-hander received a qualifying offer. If the Mets signed Rodon, they would forfeit their second- and fifth-round picks in next year’s draft.
With the rotation coming into focus, the Mets could next look toward center field and the possibility of re-signing Brandon Nimmo, who met with suitors at the winter meetings. The Mets have remained in contact with Nimmo’s camp, but did not meet with him this week.